The Importance Of A State Funeral
State funerals are held to honor heads of state. In the past, the Indian government held one for Mother Teresa, the UK held one for Princess Diana, and the US has held many for presidents who have been assassinated in office or just passed away later in life. As to be expected, there is much formality, parading, music and mourning at these events. In fact, the history of the state funeral in the US dates all the way back to the 1700s.
William Henry Harrison was the first president to die in office, which required a huge ceremony to make it distinct. Washington merchant Alexander Hunter was commissioned to design a powerful funeral that would soothe the nation. In his design, Hunter draped the White House in black ribbon and had an upholstered black and white carriage transport the body.
Looking back in history, it was Abraham Lincoln’s funeral in 1865 that really set the precedent for elaborate ceremonies. His remains lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol. He was soon followed by 11 other presidents: James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), Warren Harding (1923), William Howard Taft (1930), John F Kennedy (1963), Herbert Hoover (1964), Dwight Eisenhower (1969), Lyndon Johnson (1973), Ronald Reagan (2004) and Gerald Ford (2006).
The funeral procession is an important custom, starting at the White House and traveling to the US Capitol, down Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Traditionally, there are six horses of the same breed and color, three riders and a section chief mounted on a fourth horse from the Old Guard Caisson Platoon. The coffin is often followed by a rider-less horse to represent a fallen leader. Military bands lead each unit - the National Guard, active-duty, academy and reserve forces - as they participate in the funeral procession.
During the state funeral ceremony, the military is present to do a rare 21-gun salute, present family members with the US flag, hold a protective vigil, and to perform the music. They also may do a 3-volley salute, which dates back to the Napoleonic Wars where both sides would agree to stop fighting to care for their dead and wounded, then would fire three volleys with their rifles to signal a resume in warfare. Bagpipes, drums and bugles are not uncommon at official state funerals.
State funerals are also presented for the passing of a Pope. The largest state funeral was for Pope John Paul II in 2005, with over 2 million attendees! Generally, when an important person comes into office, they must make immediate funeral arrangements to ease the burden on the family and the nation. While not every family feels comfortable mourning so publicly, they understand that when a president or pope dies, part of the whole congregation dies.
By Relationships Editor
